Borras Construction Limited
RISK ASSESSMENT
Document No.
Issue date
Review Due
Approved By:
EXCAVATIONS
RA005
September 2014
September 2016
K Blatchford
Generic Risks
NO.
PERSONS
AT RISK
IDENTIFIABLE
HAZARD
RISK
CONTROL MEASURES TO BE PUT IN PLACE
P S R
Employee
Failure of trench
support/trench
sides
2
3
H
2
All
Falls into
excavations
(plant/materials/
persons)
2
2
M
3
Employee
Existing services
2
2
M
4
Employee
Sudden flooding
1
3
M
1
5
Employee
6
Employee
7
Employee
Contaminated
ground
Hazardous
atmospheres
Oxygen
deficiency
All excavations shall be covered by a permit to break ground that is to be completed prior to breaking ground.
Work on and in excavations will only be undertaken by competent persons.
Excavations will be formally inspected before entry at the start of every shift, where works have been carried which
affect the stability, or where a substantial collapse has occurred.
A record of the inspections of open excavations shall be maintained at least every 7 days.
Suitable supervision will be provided to ensure correct use of trench support systems.
Monitoring of work in excavations will be carried out by H & S Advisors during site inspections.
Excavations shall be supported or battered to prevent collapse. Before digging any trench pit, tunnel, or
other excavations, the required temporary support shall be determined and the necessary materials obtained.
Where battering or stepping the sides of excavations the soil and weather conditions shall be taken into
account to determine the correct angle of repose.
All excavations where significant risks are evident will be guarded by suitable means. Where there is a risk that
materials will fall into the excavation the barriers shall be provided with toe boards.
Where mobile plant is operating suitable exclusion zones and/or stop planks will be put in place.
There shall be a suitable means of access and egress from any excavation. Ladders provided for
access/egress will be suitably secured.
Plant and materials shall not be stored close to the sides of excavations.
Services will be located and exposed prior to carrying out excavations using cable avoidance tools, existing service
drawings, local client knowledge and site observations (note: CAT detectors may not identify some live services if they
do not draw a current)
Trial holes to be dug to confirm the depth of the service.
Cables shall be treated as live unless otherwise confirmed.
Safe digging practices including hand digging, prohibiting use of mechanical means of excavation within 500mm of an
identified service, use of insulated tools when carrying out hand digging next to line of service
Exposed services shall be supported as necessary; they shall not be used as hand or footholds.
Back filling shall be carried out with care to prevent and unintended damage to services
Ground conditions will be ascertained prior to digging.
1
3
2
3
Contaminated ground will be tested and necessary precautions taken. i.e. PPE, Special welfare arrangements,
M
specialist contractors.
A formal system of work will be developed where excavations are classed as confined spaces.
M
2
3
M
A formal system of work will be developed where excavations are classed as confined spaces.
THE NEXT PAGE MUST BE COMPLETED AND SIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THIS RISK ASSESSMENT IS SITE SPECIFIC
RESIDUAL
RISK
P
S
R
1
3
M
1
2
L
1
2
L
1
3
M
1
3
M
1
3
M
1
3
M
Borras Construction Limited
RISK ASSESSMENT
Document No.
Issue date
Review Due
Approved By:
EXCAVATIONS
RA005
September 2014
September 2016
K Blatchford
Site Specific Risks
Contract No.
Contract Name:
NO.
RISK
IDENTIFIABLE
HAZARD
PERSONS AT RISK
P
S
CONTROL MEASURES TO BE PUT IN PLACE
R
1
2
3
4
5
6
Reviewed for Site use by; Sign:
Print Name:
Risk Assessment Notes
Definitions
ACCIDENT
HAZARD
RISK
PROBABILITY
SEVERITY
An unplanned, uncontrolled event which has led to damage, ill health or injury
A condition or practice with the potential to cause harm, damage, ill health, injury or other loss
The combination of the probability that a HAZARD will result in an ACCIDENT and the severity of that ACCIDENT
The likelihood of an accident occurring
The outcome of accident
Probability (P)
1 = Unlikely
2 = Possible
3 = Probable
Severity (S)
1 = Minor
2 = Serious
3 = Major
P=1
P=2
P=3
S=1
L
L
M
S=2
L
M
H
Key
S=3
M
L = Acceptable Risk, reduce if possible
H
M = Tolerable Risk, reduce using control measures
H
H = Unacceptable risk, re-assess hazard
Date:
RESIDUAL
RISK
P
S
R